The JD Foundation has teamed up with The Prince’s Trust to bring communities together through the Community Impact Award.
This year, the JD Foundation has proudly sponsored The Prince’s Trust’s Community Impact Award, shining a spotlight on the positive contributions that young people are making in their local areas and schools.
The JD Foundation x The Prince’s Trust
The JD Foundation Community Impact Award was deservedly given to Education Training Collective Team 44 – a group of three young men who chose to raise awareness of an issue that was important to them; knife crime in their local community.
Team 44 is Kai, Charlie, and Jack. They all took part in The Prince’s Trust’s Team programme, a 12-week personal development course, as part of which members work together as a group to take on a project within their community. It’s delivered by the Education Training Collective (Etc.) – a group of vibrant colleges and training providers that offers high-quality education and training opportunities in Stockton-on-Tees and Redcar.
Last month, all their hard work paid off, and they received recognition at The Prince’s Trust Awards on 21st May, with a ceremony held at London’s Theatre Royal Drury Lane.
The Community Impact Award was presented to Team 44 by The JD Foundation’s Group Chair, Andy Higginson.
“I was honoured to present the Community Impact Award, sponsored by the JD Foundation, to Kai, Charlie and Jack – this group of young people are exemplary role models for their generation who have made a profound impact on their community.”
Making An Impact
After researching their local area of Teesside, the boys discovered that this was one of the highest-impacted areas in the country by knife crime at the time.
This research spurred them on to highlight the issue of knife crime in a creative way, teaming up with the educational charity, the Chris Cave Foundation, and securing funding for the project from UKSE. This resulted in the creation of a mural painted on the charity’s office walls, honouring the memory of knife crime victims by reaching out to people all over the world and including the names of those affected. Over 300 names were submitted, and whilst the mural was being painted, families from the area had attended to add their own loved ones’ names to the art.
Kai, Charlie and Jack worked with a local street artist, Illumination Art, to help bring the mural to life, delivering an impactful tribute to victims of knife crime, and something the boys can be proud of in their local area.
After winning a regional award for their efforts, our very own JD Ambassador, Chunkz, delivered the news to Team 44 that they’d won the national Community Impact Award. It’s safe to say, they were buzzing!
The JD Foundation is all about inspiring and empowering young people to reach their potential, and beyond.
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